Under the Baobab

Many African migrants in South Africa with work permits, jobs and families, still fear for their safety. Can trade unions help tackle xenophobia, challenge the myths and address the real causes of unemployment?

As schoolchildren remain at risk of kidnapping and communities live in fear, Under The Baobab asks the questions millions of Nigerians are asking: What's gone wrong? What are the solutions? And when will citizens feel safe again? In this episode, we sit Under the Baobab with Nigeria’s Defense Minister, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, to discuss the growing insecurity and how to tackle it.

Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi joined Gen Z on the streets of Nairobi to protest against the Finance Bill 2024. Now he is asking for their votes. Recorded live at the Global Media Forum in Bonn, DW's Under the Baobab puts the outspoken Kenyan activist-turned-politician in the hot seat.

Fresh cracks have emerged in Nigeria's PDP party as a faction nominated former President Goodluck Jonathan as its sole 2027 presidential aspirant. Abdullahi Ibrahim, PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, joins DW Under The Baobab to examine if Jonathan has what it takes to tackle Nigeria's pressing challenges.

Are Ghana's Black Stars ready to rise, or heading into another storm? Henry Asante Twum of the Ghana Football Association joins Under The Baobab for exclusive insight into what's really going on behind the scenes.

Is it xenophobia, a migration crisis, or a failure of African leadership? After South Africa's foreign minister insisted the country remains safe for Africans, Ghana's High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, joins us Under The Baobab to respond.

South Africa once depended on African solidarity during apartheid. Today, many Africans say they no longer feel safe there. Is this a migration crisis, xenophobia, or a deeper crisis of identity?

Across the African continent, xenophobia has led to stereotyping, violence and sometimes death. Is the current spate of anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa and Mozambique a sign of discrimination, weak diplomacy, or deeper systemic issues? Professor Jude Osakwe of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) joins DW's Mimi Mefo Newuh and George Okachi Under the Baobab to discuss.

Supporters say President Paul Biya stabilized Cameroon. Critics say he's stalled democracy amid long festering armed conflict and economic stagnation. So how does Cameroon move forward? Political scientist and Biya's ex-Minister of Forestry and Wildlife Elvis Ngolle Ngolle joins Mimi Mefo and George Okachi Under The Baobab.

For decades, billions of dollars in development aid have flowed into Africa — to fight poverty, reduce hunger, and create opportunity. Is foreign aid helping Africa… or quietly keeping it dependent?

Since rejoining the African Union in 2017, Morocco has moved quickly to expand its economic footprint across the continent. As Morocco deepens its influence, some African partners question who truly benefits and on whose terms. Is Rabat building bridges for Africa, or redrawing the balance of power in its own favor?

Western governments often argue that today's generations can't be held responsible for the crimes of slavery. But Ghana is challenging that narrative. After spearheading a historic UN resolution that formally recognized the transatlantic slave trade as "the gravest crime against humanity," Accra is now pushing for reparations, but can restorative justice truly work? Let's explore Under the Baobab.

Humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross already deliver aid, medical assistance and some protection to civilians caught in war zones found in Sudan and the DRC. But can their efforts and neutrality be a path to ending fighting?

A controversial constitutional amendment is shaking Zimbabwe to its core. Tensions are rising and turning dangerous. Critics like Prof. Madhuku narrowly survived an attack at a political meeting, calling it a chilling sign that the country's democracy may be at its lowest point in years.

AfCFTA was hailed as Africa's 'economic independence moment,' meant to unite 1.3 billion people, boost industry, create jobs, and reduce reliance on external powers. Six years on, intra‑African trade remains low, borders remain difficult to cross, and many economies still export raw materials. What has the AfCFTA delivered — and where has progress stalled?

Nigeria is racing against a growing hunger emergency as flooding and other natural disasters damage crops and disrupt food supplies. In this episode of Under the Baobab, we speak to Nigeria's Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, about the government's response.

Military takeovers in West Africa have shaken the region. Sierra Leone's Maada Bio is stepping into a diplomatic role, but rising influence abroad raises tough questions at home.

Under a controversial third-country arrangement, non-Ghanaians have arrived in Accra — sparking legal battles and constitutional questions. Is Ghana defending sovereignty, or reshaping its role in global migration policy?

Africa has witnessed a troubling pattern: elections overshadowed by allegations of fraud, rising post-electoral violence, crackdowns on dissent, and leaders clinging to power for decades. Citizens and opposition movements cry foul while international observers warn of democratic backsliding. But are they doing enough?

President Yoweri Museveni was declared the winner of the presidential election again, but many Ugandans are asking this was a true democratic choice, or a tightly controlled process designed to deliver a familiar result? Two opposing sides meet Under the Baobab to debate.

Nigeria is home to 7,200 millionaires and three billionaires — yet tens of millions live below the poverty line. Schools are underfunded, hospitals are overcrowded, and infrastructure is crumbling. As Nigeria's billionaires' fortunes grew significantly in 2025, the question is not just how much wealth Nigeria has — but who is paying to fix the country, and who is not.

Many Ugandans say President Yoweri Museveni would not win a free and fair election outright. But after four decades in power, uncertainty over electoral credibility, economic growth, and the potential for a transfer of power, remains bigger than ever. Lawyer and rights advocate Miria Matembe joins us Under the Baobab to dissect why the 2026 Ugandan general election matters more than ever.

Europe says it's ready to listen again. But after years of broken partnerships and growing anti-Western sentiment, can the EU's new approach to the Sahel truly protect civilians and restore stability?

Cameroon looks calm — but the disputed election has shaken citizen's faith in the electoral system. Tomaino Ndam Njoya, the only female presidential candidate, joins us Under the Baobab, explains why there were no winners in Cameroon's election, and reveals surprising ways Cameroon's political elite can try to rebuild trust with the electorate.

In this special edition of Under the Baobab, we uncover why African nations suffer most while contributing least, and ask: where is the money?